Japanese word

異性

Pronunciation

Romajiisei

Meaning

  • nounopposite sex

Example

異性と話すのは少し緊張します。i sei to hana su no wa suko shi kin chō shi ma su

I feel a little nervous talking to the opposite sex.

Illustration for 異性 (opposite sex)

More examples

同じ趣味の異性と話すと、会話が続きやすいです。ona ji shu mi no i sei to hana su to kai wa ga tsuzu ki ya su i de su

When I talk with someone of the opposite sex who shares my hobbies, the conversation is more likely to continue.

Core concept

Points to a person seen as belonging to a different sex from the speaker or subject, rather than to the person's individual traits.

Common phrases

  • 異性と話すi sei to hana su

    talk to the opposite sex

  • 異性の友達i sei no tomo dachi

    friend of the opposite sex

  • 異性と付き合うi sei to tsu ki a u

    date someone of the opposite sex

Definition in Japanese

ある人から見て、異なる性別に属する人。a ru hito ka ra mi te koto na ru sei betsu ni zoku su ru hito

Word origin

異性 (isei) combines 異 (i, "different") with 性 (sei, "sex or nature"), forming a word for a person of a different sex.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase opposite sex can sound formal and binary, while 異性 (isei) is a standard Japanese noun for this contrast.

Opposites

Word lists with this word